House panel OKs weakening class-size limits; vouchers on hold

BILL KACZOR

Published Saturday, April 22, 2006

TALLAHASSEE -- Democrats held their fire and let a Republican proposal to weaken the state's class-size limits sail through the House Education Council without debate Friday on its way to what both sides say will be a lengthy confrontation on the chamber floor.

The sponsor of the proposed state constitutional amendment (HJR 447), Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, thanked Democrats for saving their ammunition for next week when the measure is expected to hit the floor.

"I will expect the full Monte," Pickens said to a round of laughter from both sides.

The council then approved the measure 8-2 on a straight party-line vote.

Most Republican officials, including Gov. Jeb Bush, opposed a class-size amendment to the Florida Constitution voters approved in 2002. They argue it's too expensive, costing billions to build new schools needed to comply.

The amendment was placed on the ballot through a citizen initiative led by Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami. It sets limits that must be met by the 2010-11 school year of 18 students per class in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade and 25 in high school.

Pickens' proposal would allow school districts to meet those limits on an average basis. That would mean some classes could be smaller and some larger -- but none more than five students over the limit -- as long as the districtwide average is in compliance.

A separate provision would require districts to spend 65 percent of their budgets in the classroom as opposed to administrative and support costs. The amendment doesn't say what a classroom expense is and what it isn't. That would be left for the Legislature to decide later.

Democrats argue what has been dubbed the "65 percent solution" sounds good to voters and is just a gimmick to get them to adopt the weakened class-size limits.

Republican supporters contend that it would put more money into classrooms without raising taxes.

The House is expected to give Pickens' proposal, supported by Bush, the three-fifths majority it needs to go on the ballot. Getting that margin in the Senate remains uncertain. Although the GOP has more than a three-fifths majority in both chambers, the Senate last year defeated a similar class size proposal.

The council postponed a second highly partisan education issue, another proposed amendment that would let lawmakers restore a school voucher program that has been declared unconstitutional and create new ones while protecting two that haven't been challenged.

Vouchers allow students to attend private schools at public expense.

Council Chairman Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said action was delayed because House and Senate sponsors haven't agreed on wording for the amendment.